they learn nothing & forget nothing

Hillary Clinton will order a “full review” of Pindostan’s strategy on Syria as a “first key task” of her presidency, resetting the policy to emphasise the “murderous” nature of the Assad regime, a foreign policy adviser with her campaign has said. Jeremy Bash, who served as chief of staff for the Pentagon and the CIA, said Clinton would both escalate the fight against Da’esh, and work to get Assad “out of there.” He said in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph:

A Clinton administration will not shrink from making clear to the world exactly what the Assad regime is. It is a murderous regime that violates human rights; that has violated international law; used chemical weapons against his own people; has killed hundreds of thousands of people, including tens of thousands of children.

Obama has been roundly criticised by top experts and members of his own administration for instating an approach to the Syrian war, which has seen estimates of more than 400,000 people killed, that is riven with contradictions. The White House remains notionally committed to removing Assad, whilst at the same time, working in alliance with Russia, Damascus’ top champion. The new agreement it was setting out with Moscow earlier this month would see Pindo forces join Russia in a bombing campaign against Jabhat al-Nusra. As Pindostan switches its focus to destroying Da’esh and creating alliances with Moscow, the White House has quietly dropped its rhetoric against the Assad regime. Critics warn that this approach will only foster anti-Pindosi sentiment among Syrians, who feel abandoned by Pindostan following its failure to take decisive action against Damascus. A source with access to White House officials said the administration sees the dangers that partnering with Russia could have in terms of worsening the dynamics on the ground, but that the president is trying to cover his bases until he steps down in November. The source said the White House feels it cannot not be seen to be doing nothing against an AQ affiliate at a time of heightened national security in Pindostan. He said in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph. Were there to be an attack in Pindostan that was claimed by AQ the president’s legacy would be destroyed, they fear. Speaking on the sidelines of the DNC, Bash, who is advising the party’s presidential nominee, said a Clinton administration would seek to bring “moral clarity” to the Pindosi strategy on the Syrian crises. He said:

I predict that a Syria policy review will be one of the first items of business for the national security team.

Bash refused to say what specific action the Clinton administration may take, saying it was not possible to plan the “granular detail” whilst still waging an election campaign. The Clinton campaign strategy as listed on its website revives a long proposed, but never implemented, plan to create “safe zones” on the ground for civilians. This would require a de facto no fly zone to prevent air strikes in the area. It is a strategy that has been passionately opposed by Damascus, which sees this is a safe haven for rebel opposition groups. The policy on Mrs Clinton’s website reads:

This creates leverage and momentum for a diplomatic solution that removes Assad and brings Syria’s communities together to fight ISIS.

She sees the importance of Pindostani leadership as a first principle. Clinton believes that problems around the world can more easily be solved when Pindostan is involved and in each of those problems or crisis (sic – RB). We always try to work with coalitions of people and countries and leaders who are willing to tackle the problems in the same way we are.

Jamie Rubin, the former diplomat and close Clinton ally, separately told the Telegraph that Clinton, who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, would not feel “constrained” as many in the Obama administration have been in the wake of its disastrous legacy.